Wooster's Bonezzi, Whitman lock up All-Ohio honors

CANTON -- Going into the state meet, Wooster freshman swimmer Jessica Bonezzi was adamant that she'd treat it like any other meet.

True to her word, on Friday the rookie did what she's done all year -- finish near the top and break yet another record.

Bonezzi and her classmate, Madison Whitman, added two more accomplishments to their already impressive freshman campaigns as they each moved on to the finals in a pair of events at Friday's Div. I State Championships. Bonezzi was 12th in the 200 free (1:53.41) and seventh in the 100 butterfly (56.64), while Whitman was 13th in the 200 individual medley (2:08.20) and ninth in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.23). Because they cracked the top 16, the freshmen are now All-Ohioans, with Bonezzi breaking her own school record in the 200 free and Whitman doing the same in the IM.

The Generals just missed out in the 200 medley relay, with Gabrielle Sibilia, Sydney Wenger, Bonezzi and Whitman taking 18th (1:50.50). The quartet was also 22nd in the 400 free relay (3:41.42).

Despite not making the cut in the relays, Bonezzi and Whitman were a combined 4-for-4 in their individual races. Wooster girls coach Chris Matthew said she'd expect nothing less from her two star newcomers.

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"They're used to swimming in high-powered meets," said Matthew. "This is one of the top meets they'll ever participate in. I think they were a little nervous, but you wouldn't know it."

Bonezzi said she really wasn't anxious all week, but that all changed minutes before the race.

"I was surprisingly care-free," she said. "Then I got nervous when I was behind the blocks, but my friend always told me 'Once you get behind the blocks, whatever you're feeling, let it go.' That's what I did and I was ready."

Bonezzi is now seeded seventh in the butterfly, putting her in the top heat this evening and in contention for a state championship. While that may sound crazy for a freshman, after making it to final meet of the season, Bonezzi feels like she's playing with house money at this point.

"I just want to see how high I can get," she said. "Top-three would be great, but we'll just see where it takes me."

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Whitman, meanwhile, has also set the bar high this season. Even though she finished ninth overall in the breaststroke, her 1:05.23 in prelims is three-hundredths of a second slower than her district time. That means she'll swim in the B heat today.

"I was disappointed," said Whitman, "but I just have to shake it off -- Saturday's a second chance."

Matthew was impressed with the improvement Whitman made in the IM. While she was seeded last, she more than held her own to make it to Day 2.